Sheffield enhanced its reputation as the country’s greenest city as it scooped a record number of awards for its parks and green spaces.

The city picked up four new Green Flag Awards this year at Charnock Recreation Ground, Manor Fields, Millhouses Park and Wyming Brook.

Sheffield is now the leading authority in the Yorkshire and Humberside region with 22 Green Flag Awards – the national standard for quality parks and green spaces.

Councillor Leigh Bramall, the Council’s Cabinet member for Environment and Transport said: “This is fantastic news for Sheffield. These four new national awards reinforce Sheffield’s position as one of the UK’s greenest cities. They follow on from the city’s 18 sites that have already received Green Flag status.

“The awards also showcase the city’s huge variety of top quality green spaces ranging from stunning outer city sites – in this case Wyming Brook, our beautiful city parks – Millhouses and of course our urban spaces at the heart of communities – both Manor Fields and Charnock Recreation Ground.

“All these sites are worthy winners of the Green Flag award and I would like to congratulate all those involved, including volunteers, Friends Groups, our partners Green Estate and Sheffield Wildlife Trust and of course Council staff. The success has been built on great team work and I hope that Sheffielders will now visit these sites – and Sheffield’s Great Outdoors – more than ever!”

John Brighton Secretary of the Friends of Millhouses Park added: “We are delighted to have gained this prestigious Green Flag award. Many people have been involved in making significant improvements to the park over the last few years to make it a better place for everyone. The highly successful partnership working with Sheffield City Council has been a major part of this success.”